Boiler-water-level controller



May 15, 1923.

J. F. KELLY BOILER WATER LEVEL CONTROLLER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 211920 rig.

J rave 21W" May 15, 1923.

J. F. KELLY 501mm WATER LEVEL CONTROLLER Filed Feb. 21, 1920" 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 15, 19.23.

stars JOHN IE. KELLY, OF CHIGAGG,

rrnr WFFHO ILLINOIS. .ASSIGNOR, BY :MIESNE ASSIGNMENTS, 'I'O MICHIGAN.

BOILER-WATER-LEVEL CGN'IROLLER.

Application filed February 21, 1920.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN F. KELLY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in a Boilerater- LevelController, of which the following is a. specification.

In the operation of stationary boilers of either high or low pressurepipe, it has heretofore been the custom, so far as l am' aware, for theengineer to maintain the requisite water level in the boilers byperiodically admitting water whenever its necessity was indicated by thegauge glass.

1 am also aware that in some systems which operate steadily and withuniformity, it is customary to leave the watersupply valve partiallyopen so that a small quantity of water is continually delivered to theboiler.

It is the purpose of my invention to r move the maintenance .of therequisite water level in the boiler from the province of the engineerand to provide an apparatus which will automatically maintain apredetermined water level in the boiler, thus removing this importantfunction from human fallibility, thereby precluding the possibility ofaccident resulting from a depletion of water in the boiler.

Another feature of my invention resides in the provision not only forautomatically supplying water to a boiler when it is required, but alsofor delivering water therefrom back to the feed water heater or othersource of supply should the water level in the boiler become too high,and thus I have obviated possibility of accidents resulting from toomuch water in the boiler.

A further feature of my invention is the provision of a high water and alow water alarm and means for operating the same whenever the waterlevel in the boiler reaches a predetermined maximum or predeterminedminimum height to thereby notify the engineer of the condition of thewater level in the boiler.

Other features and advantages of my invention will be appreciated as thesame becomes better understood by reference to the following descrip onw n con idered nected Serial No. 380,532.

connection with the accompanying drawin 's.

Ileferring to the drawings,

Fig. 1 is an elevation. partially in section, of a controller embodyingmy inven tion;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional one of the water controlling Fig.

view through valves; 3 is an enlarged sectional view of one of the steamcontrolling valves;

Fig. at is a view similar to F 1 of another embodiment of my invention;and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of one of the water controllingvalves employed in this form of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings more in detail, and particularly to Figs.1 to 3 thereof, reference character 6 indicates a water column casingadapted to be connected at the top and bottom by suitable pipes with theinterior of a boiler. In connecting the water column to a boiler, it isattached at such vertical height that the minimum and maximum safe waterlevels in the boiler will be embraced in this water column. The ordinarygauge glass 7 may be attached to one side of the column casing and the,casing is preferably equipped with the usual gauge cocks 8 disposed atvarious heights, as is customary.

The water supply pipe through which water is supplied to the boiler isindicated on the drawing by reference character 9 and for convenience,this pipe and also the water delivery pipe 11 are shown as coninto thewater column casing, although it should be understood that these pipesmay be connected directly to the boiler instead of to the water columncasing, if desired, without affecting the reliable operation of theapparatus or departing from the essence of my invention. The watersupply pipe 9 is connected with any suit able source of water supplyunder a pressure greater than that existing in the boiler and the waterdelivery pipe is preferably connected to the feed water heater, althoughit may be connected to a sump or any place where it may be desirable todeliver water from the boiler. Since this pip larg y for emergencypurposes, as

. connection 21 with 'while steam admitted through the water columnthrough the interim...

in normal oaeration of the apparatus the water level will very seldomexceed the maximum level for which the apparatus is set, water will bedelivered through this pipe very infrequently.

In each of: the water pipes, I have interposed and 13 respectively,these valves being of duplicate construction, and one being shown on anenlarged scale in 2. Rel'erring to this figure, it will be observed thatthe valve casing is provided with a partition providing a valve seat 14adapted to be closed by a valve l5 seating thereon, said valve beingcarried by stem l6 projecting: u p-' wardly through a packing gland l"?and equipped at its upper end with a piston 18 snugly fitted withina s9am c..aml')er The lower end of the valve has a lost motion a threadednut 22, which is connected with and adapted to be rotated by a handwheel 23. By this structure, the valve may be manually opened or closedwhen desired, but normally, the nut supply and delivery shut-oil valves12 22 is disposed substantiall in the position shown in Fig. 2 so thatthe valve may be opened and closed by means of the piston 18 withoutiuterterence by the nut 22, although as will be manifest this nut may bes t so as to limit the ester t of opening the valve.

My invention contemplates the automatic opening and closing of thesevalves by steam pressure acting upon opposite sides at the pistons 18and since water is never admitted to and discharged from the boilersimultaneously, the control is such that one of the valves is alwaysclosed when the other is open. With a view of securing this result,

l have provided two steam supply pipes 24v and 25 respectively,

the pipe 2l being equipped with a branch 26 connected to the steamchamber of: the water delivery valve beneath the piston and with abranch 27 connected with the steam chamber of he water supply valveabove the piston. The pipe 25 is s milarly connected by branch 28 to thesteam chamber 0"? the water delivery valve above the piston and bybranch 29 to the steam chamber of the water supply valve below thepiston. Steam admitted through the pipe 24: will therefore tend to openthe delivery valve and close the supply valve, pipe. 25

will tend to close the delivery valve and open the'supply valve. Thesepipes and 25 are preferably equipped v. A test cocks 31, as shown, andthe supply vided with a check valve to prevent back [low of steam orwater under pressure into the water supply line. Either the pipe 24:

.or the pipe 25 may be shut oil when desiret by means of hand valvesspectivelyt v The pipes 2-l and 25 are connected with the and 34 retheplug 36.

O pipe 9 pro ary of valves which control the flow of steam to the pipes,as will now be explained. A valve casing is connected at one end to thepipe 25 and its other end to hollow plug .36 threaded into the plate 37forming); one o? the side walls of the caslng G, This valve casing isshaped to provide a passage 3S terminating in a valve seat 39 disposedin alinenient with the bore through A valve ll is adapted to seat uponthe seat 39 and shut off the passage 2-38. This valve, which is ofelongated shape, projects through and slidingly fits within the plug);36, and is provided with a central bore 42 communicating with theinterior oi? the casing 35, 'througha traner-xerse aperture as and iwith the interior of: the casing! 5 through a similar transverseaperture ll. Thus it willbe seen that connnunication is establishedbetween the casing; t3 and the pipe 255 when the passage 38 closed bythe valve ll. llhen, however, the valve 4:1. drawn inwardly into-thecasing: 6, the aper-- ture $3 is brought within the ccnfihes of the plug36, thereby entirely or partially closi r: this a perture and shuttingoil flow of ste a from the casing- (i into the casing 235. This inwardmovement of the valve l1 also 0 ions the passage 38 so that steam inthis casing in the pipe 25 and in the steam chambers of the-valves l2and 13 may escape through the passage and in so doing, it operates asignal in the form of a whistle 4:5.

The pipe 24: isalso connected to the casino, 6 through a similar valvecasing with similar valve mechanism, as shown in Fig. 1, which need notbe described. This casing 4:6 is also equipped with a signal whistleell, his signal constituting a low-water alarm, while the llll 4:5constitutes a highwater alarm. i i k The inner ends or thevalve membersall are slotted to receive a lever i8 pivoted at 49 upon a bracket 51,as shown in Fig. 1. The upper end of this lever is connected by a link52 to one arm oi. a bell crank lever pivotally mounted at :3 andconnected at the outer end oi? the long; arm to a link 55, which isattached to a rod 56. Upon this rod there is zuiljustably mounted anupper abutment member 57 and a lower abutment member 68, both disposedin the path of travel of a float 59 in the casing.

The operation or this term of my inven tion is as follows: lVhen thewater level in the boiler diminishes, the float 59 moves downwardly inthe casing: ntil ht rests upon the abutment uci .ho weight oi the tloatpulls downwardly upon the rod. 513, and swings the bell crank lever 52:3in a connterelochwise direction, swinging the lever h; in a clock-- wi eunectien on its pivot. The upper end of lever 48 moves inwardly in theelongated slot in the valvemember 4:1, The

thus partially shutting oil communication between this casing and thevalve casing 46,

and opening the passage to the alarm signal 47. The steam in the valvecasing 46, in the pipe 2%, and in the steam chambers of the respectivevalves now escapes and actuates 'the signal 47. The release of pressurein the steam chamber of the delivery valve 13 below the piston merelyserves to cause this valve to seat more'snugly against its seat underthe influence oi the pressure exerted upon the upper face of the pistonthrough the pipe 25. The release of pressure above the piston of thesupply valve 12, however, causes this valve to open under the influenceof the steam pressure exerted upon its under surface through the pipeand branch 2-9.

'lVa-ter will now flow through the supply pipe 9 into the water columncasing and thence into the boiler, and as the water level rises, thefloat 59 will move upwardly. When it is moved upwardly a sufficientdistance, it will engage the abutment 57, thus lifting the rod 56 andthe long); arm of the lever 53 to swing the lever 48 in acounterclockwise direction. When it is movedsufflciently to release thelower valve member ll, this valve will close against its seat under theinfluence of the steam pressure in the casing 6 and pressure willthereupon he reestablished in the casing 46, the pipe 2% and valve steamchambers connected thereto. The pressure above the piston of the supplyvalve will now become equal to the pressure below and the valve willseat under the in fluence of gravity and the influence of the flowingwater; If, however, the valve should fail to properly seat, due to someforeign article lodging on the valve seat, or for any other cause. waterwill still continue to flow in more or less restricted quantities intothe boiler. If the water level in the boiler should rise above thedesired maximum point, the float 59 will continue to lift the rod 56 andthrough the bell crank 53, swing; the lever 48 in a counterclockwisedirection surhciently to draw the valve member ll in the casing 35,inwardly into the casing 6, thus partially shutting oflf communicationbetween the casings 6 and and causing); the high water alarui -15 to beactuated by the steam pressure in this casing 35 and in the pipe 25.Release of pressure in the pipe 25will release the pressure in the steamchamber of the delivery valve 12 above the piston and this valve willthereupon open so that water will bedelivered from the casing throughthe delivery pipe 11 to the feed water heater or other point ofreception. When the water level been lowered by this delivery untilupward pressure of the float 59 upon the abutment 57 has ceased, the all will close again, thus l'tE-GSiltlbllSlling; the parts in normalposition.

In the form of my invention shown in Figs. l and 5, the casing 6, float59, abutments 5? and 58, bell crank 53, and lever 48 are allsubstantially like that previously described. The water supply pipe 9and the water delivery pipe 11 are also connected to the water columncasing: as in the manner previously described.

In this instance, however, instead of employing water supply anddelivery valves which are actuated directly by steam pressure, I utilizea construction in which the heat units of the steam re utilized insteado the pressure to :ictuatethose valves.

The water supply valve 61 and the water delivery valve 6:), aresubstentimly identical in construction, and one o? them is shown on anenlarged scale in i from which it will be seen that the va .t'ng isshaped to urovide a seat 63 adapted to be closed by a tire 64-, mountedupon a stern 653. This em has a lost motion connection with a threadedhead controlled by a hand wheel 67. by which the valve may be opened andclosed manually if desired, but normally it is operated automaticallyfrom the lower end oil. the stem 65 by mechanism which will now bedescribed.

In a suitable casino; or housing 68, I have l two thermostats 69 and T1respecmounted tively, connected their upper ends with steam pipes 753and '73, which pipes are in turn connected to the interior of the casing6 through couplings 'Z l and 75 provided with valve seats 76 and 77.These seats are normally closed by valves 78 and '79 and are adapted tobe opened by the lever 18 when swung one (,irection or the other uponits fulcrum. The lower end of the thermostat 71 rests upon a stud 81.carried by a lever 82 :hilcrumed at 83 upon a dowmvard extenion 345-,carried by the lower end of the thermostat 69. The opposite end of lever82 is connected by a link with a multiplying lever 86 tulcruined u, 87.the long arm ol this lever being: engaged with a push member o8, intowhich the lower end of the valve stem 65 projects. An adjusting nut 89mounted on this stem determines the position of the levers when thevalve 6% is in closed position.

Assume that the water level in the water rclumu casinohas taller! tosuch an extent that the float 5 acting on the abu ment si .Hfil'f; thelever 48 in a. clockwise direction, thus opening the valve 79. Flteamwill now flow from the casing; 6 throunh the pipe 73 into the thermostat71.. causing this thermotube to ezn iard. Since the upper end of thistube. is rigidly mounted. the lower end will push downwardly upon thestud 81,

&

thereby moving the left hand end 'iewiug Fig. 4 of lever 82 downwardlyand through the link 85, swinging the lever 86 to elevate the pushmember88 and through the stem (35 to lift the valve (i l from its seat,permitting a supply 0t water to be delivered through the pipe 9 into thecasing 6. -When the water level is raised, the valve 79 will close,under steam pressure as soon as the lever lSwill permit it to do so.Should the water level continue to 'rise, however, the abutment 57 willeventually he moved upwardly by the float 59, thereby opening the valve78 and admitting steam through the pipe 72 to the thermostat 69.Expansion of this thermostat will move the pivot 87% oi the lever 82downwardly that the stud 81 will be moved away from the thermostat 71,whereupon the valve in the casing 6 will close under gravity. Thisdownward movement of the lower end of the thermostat tube 69 will alsoexert a downward pressure upon a stud 91, carried by alcver 92, pivotedat 93. The opposite end of: this lever isconnected by a. link 94 to alever 95., :tulcrumed at 96 and engaged with a push member 97, to whichthe valve stem of the valve 62 is connected through an adjusting nut 98.

This movement of the levers will elevate the pushmember 97 sons to liftthe valve in the casing 62 from its seat, permitting a delivery of waterfrom the water column casing 6 through the pipe 11, to a feed waterheater or other point of reception, as previously explained inconnection with 1.

It will be apparent :trom the foregoing that I have provided acontroller which, act-- ing in one form of my invention through steampressure and in the other form, through the heatunits ot the steam,serves to automatically maintain a predetermined water level in a boilerwithout attention of the engineer. Should the level fall below theminimum for which the apparatus is set, the supply valve will be openedand the water will be replenished; Should ."l'or any reason, accidentalor otherwise, the water level rise above the maximum height, thedelivery pipe valve will be opened and the surplus will be dischargedfrom the boiler. The operation, both of supplying water to the boilerand delivering; water therefrom. is entirely automatic and whilehigh-water and low-water alarms are provided which signal the engineerwhen these operations take place, these alarms may be dispensed withwithout impairing the usefulness ot the automatic control. The detailsof construction illustrated and described, are obviously capable ofconsiderable modification and variation within the scope of theinvention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a boiler water level controller, the combination of a casing, afloat therein, a

water supply 'pipe, a water delivery pipe, valves in said pipes, steamactuated means for operating said valves, manually operable means foractuating said valves independently of said steam actuated means, valvesfor controlling the supply of steam to said steam actuated means, and anoperative connection between said float and each of said last mentionedvalves. 1

2. In a boiler water level controller, the combination of a water columncasing, a float therein, boiler water supply and delivery pipes, a valvein each otsaid pipes, steam actuated means for operating said valves,means for controlling the supply of steam to each of said valves, andoperative councctionr-i between said float and said steam controllingmeans. y

3. In a boiler water level controller, the combination of a. watercolumn casing, a float therein, boiler water-supply and delivery pipes,a valve in each of said pipes, a steam actuated piston connected to'eachvalve, means for supplying steam from said casing above and beneath eachof said pistons, means for controlling the supply of steam to saidpistons, and connections between said float and said steam controllingmeans. 1 i

A t. In a boiler water level controller, the

combination of a water column casing, a float therein, a water supplypipe, a valve in said pipe, a piston connected to said alve, steamsupply pipes for delivering steam from said casing to opposite sides ofsaid piston respectively manually operable means for opening and closingsaid-valve, valves for controlling the supply of steam to said pipes,and connections between said valve and said float whereby one of saidvalves is opened by lowering movement of the float and the other isopened'by raising movement of said float. i i

5; In a boiler water level controller, the combination of a water columncasing, a float therein, water supply and delivery pipes connected tosaid casing, a valve in each of said pipes, a piston connected to eachof said valves, steam supply pipes leading from said casing, one ofsaid. pipes being connected to deliver steam to said pistons to open thewater supply valve and close the ater delivery valve and the other pipebeing connected to deliver steam to said pistons to close the watersupply valve and open the water delivery valve, means for controllingthe supply of steam to said pipes, and mechanism actuated by said floatfor operating said steam supply controlling valves.

6. In a boiler water level controller, the

combination of a water column casing, 21

float therein, water supply and delivery plpes connected vto sa dcasing, a valvev in each plpe, and steam actuated meanscom trolled bysaid float for opening the Water supply valve and sounding an alarm Whenthe Water level in said casing reaches a predetermined minimum and foropening said delivery valve and sounding an alarm When the Water levelin said casing reaches a predetermined maximum.

'7. In a boiler Water level controller, the combination of a Watercolumn casing, a float therein, Water supply and delivery pipes, a valvein each of said pipes, a steam chamber associated With each valve, apiston in each chamberconnected to its respective valve, means fornormally supplying steam under pressure to opposite sides of saidpiston, and means controlled by said float for releasing the pressureabove the piston of the Water supply valve When a predetermined aterlevel is reached in the casing and for releasing the pressure above thepiston of the water delivery valve when a predetermined maximum Waterlevel is reached in the Gas- 53. In a boiler water level controller, the

combination of a Water column casing, a float therem, Water supply anddelivery pipes, a valve 1n each pipe, steam actuated vand manuallycontrolled means for c means controlled by said float for opening saidvalves in alternation, means for sounding an alarm when each valve isopened osmg each valve independent of said float-controlled means.

9. In a boiler Water level controller, the combination of boiler Watersupply and de livery pipes, a valve in each pipe, a steamactuated pistonconnected to each valve, means for supplying steam from the boiler aboveand beneath each of said pistons, and means controlled by the Waterlevel in the boiler for controlling the supply of steam to said pistons.

10. In a boiler Water level controller, the combination of Water supplyand delivery pipes, a valve in each of said pipes, steam actuatedpistons for opening and closing said valves, manually operable means foropening and closing said valves independently of the pistons, steamsupply pipes for delivering steam to the pistons, and means controlledby the Water level in the boiler for controlling the supply oi steam tosaid pistons.

JOHN F. KELLYQ

